Learn Chinese L16: How much is this clothes?

From：中国国际广播电台

Dachuan is strolling in a clothing store and sees cheong-sam and Tang Dynasty garments of different colors and styles. He wants to buy a red cheong-sam for Li Mei.
[1] Dialogues & Explanations[2] Curtural tips

Dachuan is strolling in a clothing store and sees cheong-sam and Tang Dynasty garments of different colors and styles. He wants to buy a red cheong-sam for Li Mei.

Dialogue One

zhè jiàn yī fu duō shǎo qián
这 件 衣 服 多 少 钱？

How much does this clothing cost?

èr bǎi bā shí yuán
二 百 八 十 元。

280 yuan.

èr bǎi yuán kě yǐ ma
二 百 元 可 以 吗？

That's too expensive. 200 yuan.

zuì dī èr bǎi èr shí yuán
最 低 二 百 二 十 元。

At least 220 yuan.

hǎo de wǒ mǎi le
好 的， 我 买 了。

OK. I'll take it.

Dialogue Two

wǒ kě yǐ shì yí xià ma
我 可 以 试 一 下 吗？

Can I try it on?

kě yǐ nǐ xiǎng yào shén me yán sè de
可 以。你 想 要 什 么 颜 色 的？

Ok. What color would you like?

lán sè de
蓝 色 的。

Blue.

yǒu méi yǒu dà yì diǎnr de
有 没 有 大 一 点儿 的？

Is there a bigger one?

méi yǒu
没 有。

No.

Explanation of difficult points

1. to omit

Notice that in these two examples from Dialogue 2 "……什么颜色的" (shén me yán sè de) and "蓝色的" (lán sè de), the subject is clothing, "衣服" (yī fu). However, because the topic is already obvious to both speakers, "衣服" is omitted.

2. 一下

"一下" (yí xià) is used to mean quickly, casually, or "for a short while."

3. 有没有……?

"有没有……?" (yǒu méi yǒu) has the same meaning as "有……吗?" (yǒu ma) "有" (yǒu) which means "to have" and "没" (méi) means to not have. So, "有没有……?" is an example the method of forming questions by joining positive and negative structures together. It's similar to saying "Do you or don't you have...?"

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